By Dave Meltzer |
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| @DaveMeltzerWON

No major wrestling events today. Total Divas has a new episode at 10 p.m. on E!

Last night's UFC show will be replayed starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time on FS 1.

Monday is Raw from Oklahoma City. Locally they are advertising "The McMahons and HHH," for whatever that means, and it may not mean a thing given the last time Vince McMahon was advertised for Raw he didn't appear.

TNA Impact will be taping the Final Resolution show (for 12/19) on Tuesday night in Orlando with Bobby Roode vs. Kurt Angle 2/3 falls and Jeff Hardy vs. Magnus.

We've got our holiday special for all newsletter and web site subscribers. Anyone who orders a gift subscription for a friend who is a new subscriber for four months will get one free month added to your subscription. Just make sure when you order to note it is the holiday special.

A coverage of where WWE stands coming out of Survivor Series, as well as part one of a two-part series on the life and times of Mad Dog Vachon lead off this week's double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The issue is available on the site today.

We look at the fame of Vachon, his extensive career title history from all over the world, and the legends of wrestling in Montreal. We look at why Vachon was so famous mainstream and the major political leaders who spoke this past week about his death.

We look at Mad Dog the wrestler, Mad Dog the fighter, Mad Dog the Olympian and more.

We look at his start in wrestling, the start of the career of brother Paul the Butcher, one of the great practical jokes in the history of the Calgary territory, Mad Dog and Gorgeous George, Mad Dog in Hawaii and where he got the shaved head from. We also look at the origin of the Mad Dog Vachon name, his multiple runs as AWA champion, his matches as AWA champion against rival world champions including the night the AWA champion faced the WWWF champion on an NWA show.

We also look at his career in Montreal, his early tours of Japan, and one of the most famous angles in AWA history setting up the Mad Dog vs. Crusher feud. We also look at the night Mad Dog set the North American gate record for pro wrestling, and the night he broke that card.

We also look at the Vachons vs. LeDucs feud, the heyday of Grand Prix Wrestling and the biggest wrestling match ever in Quebec and how it was actually a late replacement idea, and how Mad Dog sold out Jarry Park.

We also look at WWE's upcoming plans, the push of Roman Reigns, the betting on WWE matches, if Survivor Series is actually a big four show to wrestling fans and WWE hurting its PPV business.

We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

We also have more on WrestleMania ticket sales, Royal Rumble ticket sales, the WWE network, the Hulk Hogan latest suicide attempt story, stories that need to be watched by both those in WWE and UFC, as well as Bill Goldberg tells the real story about WrestleMania 30, would he wrestle there, if he's been approached, pro wrestling vs. NFL vs. MMA, wrestling Steve Austin and more.

We've got more on Daniel Bryan, Chris Hero, Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, Dwayne Johnson, WWE movies, a current WWE star talking about retiring, another giant from India, update on Christian and Maven, the world of developmental and who is looking good, Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards in WWE Cody Rhodes talks about a shoot on television, WWE employee makes news for indecent fro yeas ago, WWE title unification and more.

We also look at New Japan's annual tag team tournament, standings, upcoming iPPV lineups, who has the best shot at winning and why, as well as full coverage of opening night from Korakuen Hall and highlights of the next three dates.

We also have our 2013 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards ballot.

We've also go an overview of Bellator's completed season, including notes on business, Friday vs. Thursday, did the big show help, what were season highlights, plans for next year, Rampage Jackson, Tito Ortiz, as well as big title matches and what is upcoming.

We also have notes on the punishment Antonio Inoki was given for going to North Korea a few weeks ago.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

The Observer is now in its 31st year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world. Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. Just sent your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, card number and expiration date to
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You can also subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

We also have a look at the ratings of all the major shows and how every segment on Impact did as far as gaining or losing viewers.

We also have results from all the major league arena events over the past week as well as a look at all the major television shows.

Also in this week's issue:

--Why a lot of wrestlers are upset with CMLL management

--A look at recent Arena Mexico shows

--What top heel is turning face and what top face is being booed

--A look at CMLL's last big tournament of the year

--Results of the annual CMLL bodybuilding contest

--What former TNA star placed second

--Some big matches upcoming

--Full lineup for AAA's Guerra de Titanes

--A look at the last two TV tapings building up the big show

--What Hall of Famer got involved in an angle and looks to be coming out of retirement

--Main event for Dragon Gate's last major show of the year

--New gimmick match idea Dragon Gate is doing

--A look at the All Japan big show of the last week and where the angles are going

--All Japan's expenses

--New group being put together

--A look at the Akira Taue retirement show with the lineup

--What happened with Davey Richards and who is taking his place

--Debut of a son of a Hall of Famer

--80s legend suffers significant injury, will gut through one match but then take it easy

--Thanksgiving tradition of wrestling returns to Greensboro with card and names involved

--WWC's year-end show notes

--Former wrestling magazine publisher passes away

--PWG's All-Star weekend noes

--Mid South Wrestling reunion at this year's WrestleMania weekend

--Former TNA wrestler retires

--Loads of injuries to former WCW wrestler

--Celebrities doing pro wrestling

--Matysik celebrates 50 years in wrestling

--ROH notes on Final Battle for this year

--TNA's taping schedule

--TNA Final Resolution lineup

--Upcoming house shows

--Return of Madison Rayne

--Abyss/Joseph Park storyline ending

--Thoughts on Sports Illustrated story on Dixie Carter

--Carter's life growing up

--How she ended up running TNA

--New TNA plans

--Notes for the next month of TNA television

--Business of UFC 167

--What percentage of crowd came from Canada

--What records were set

--How much GSP really earns

--List pay vs. real pay

--GSP talks future

--Jon Jones talks retirement

--UFC schedule update for 2014

--Ticket sales for upcoming UFC events

--Will UFC 168 set records?

--CSAC head Andy Foster addresses judging problems

--Dana White new TV show

--Cain Velasquez injury updates

--Anthony Pettis health update

--Who almost got into a fight with Bisping

--UFC fighter suddenly retires

--Another UFC fighter says he's one fight from retiring

--More UFC plans for New York

--UFC plans overseas

--Lots of injury updates

--Tons of new UFC fights made

--Notes on Invicta and World Seres of Fighting

--Next Glory show

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Our most requested issues in our history are:

*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how the industry was changed forever)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

SUNDAY'S NEWS UPDATE

--Shane Del Rosario has been taken off life support according to training partner Erik Apple and has been able to breathe on his own, and squeezed his mother's hand on his own. There are signs of brain activity at this point. Del Rosario was not expected to live past Friday.

--Ronda Rousey will be the guest on Jimmy Kimmel live tomorrow night. Hopefully she does a better job than she did last night. (thanks to Jon Southerland)

--Dwayne Johnson wrote on twitter about the death of Paul Walker saying, "All my strength, love and faith to the Walker family during his heartbreaking time. We find our strength in his light. Love you brother." Walker is in the recently completed Fast and Furious 7 filming.

--Gene LeBell will be a guest Monday on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani

--Gerald Brisco was scouting at today's wrestling show in Madison Square Garden that featured a number of MMA fighters doing wrestling matches as well as a lot of major college teams and local area teams.

--Danny Hodge was the honorary bench coach for the University of Oklahoma at today's Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State wrestling dual meet. Oklahoma was down 15-3 but came back to win 16-15.

--Christy Hemme is featured in the new issues of OK Magazine and Star Magazine.

--In picks for last night, I went 4-1, as did Todd Martin, Mike Sempervive and Josh Nason. I missed the main event. Sempervive and Martin were the only ones who picked Diaz over Maynard. Oliver Copp was 3-2 and Mike Sawyer was 2-3.

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY (thanks to Graeme Cameron and Brian Hoops)

1906 - In one of the biggest matches of all-time, Fred Beel beat Frank Gotch in New Orleans to win the American heavyweight title, which may have been Gotch's last defeat

1938 - Mildred Burke beat Betty Nichols in Columbus, OH to win the World women's title

--On today's Pro Bowlers Association show on ESPN, Pete Weber, a big wrestling fan who often imitates RVD, was bowling and there were signs in the audience that read, "If Weber loses, We Riot!!" He did lose, by the way. Every day he threw a strike they played HHH's music (thanks to Steve Handley)

WHO WAS THE BEST OF THESE HALL OF FAMERS?

Andre the Giant 58.1%

Nick Bockwinkel 41.9%

WHAT MMA SCORING SYSTEM DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST?

Just pick the winners at the end, no point system 35.3%

Current system, but adding half points 29.8%

Current system 12.6%

Using a series of points like in wrestling, judo and Jiu Jitsu 11.6%

Current system but allowing judges to overrule their point totals if they choose 10.7%

IN THE MODERN ERA, WHAT IS THE BEST WRESTLING ARENA FOR ATMOSPHERE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE?

Madison Square Garden 42.7%

All-State Arena in Chicago 12.7%

Tokyo Dome 11.3%

Korakuen Hall 8.4%

Budokan Hall 8.2%

ECW Arena 5.0%

ACC in Toronto 4.8%

Arena Mexico 2.2%

Bell Centre 2.2%

St. Louis Scottrade Arena 1.4%

Sumo Hall in Tokyo 0.7%

Osaka Castle Hall 0.5%

POLL ON SMACKDOWN

Excellent 16.3%

Good 32.7%

Average 17.3%

Fair 10.2%

Poor 23.5%

37.6% of those responding didn't see the show

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING THE RATINGS OF ULTIMATE FIGHTER?

Show has gone on too long, they were lucky to have the interest they had with this season 50.7%

Being on a new station hurt ratings 19.5%

Numbers were good when you factor in DVR viewing, repeat viewing and West Coast start time 9.4%

The women were fine but guys hurt the show 8.4%

Show was hurt because Rousey hurt her star power and Tate wasn't likeable 6.4%

Fighters this season were boring and hurt ratings 2.2%

Having women on the show hurt it 1.7%

Coaches weren't interesting this season 1.7%

--Adam Pearce is scheduled to be a guest trainer this week at the WWE Performance Center.

--In the discussion on Dennis Rodman on last night's radio show, his talks were in 1997, where WCW took the deal from WWF, not 1996 as we said on the show.

--I'm not sure what this means, but of the fighters last night, the ones who gained the most twitter followers after the fight were:

1. Julianna Pena 2,792

2. Nate Diaz 1,538

3. Raquel Pennington 1,462

4. Jessamyn Duke 1,439

5. Chris Holdsworth 977

6. Roxanne Modafferi 909

7. Davey Grant 798

8. Jessica Rakoczy 554

9. Peggy Morgan 439

10. Gray Maynard 256

--Former UFC fighter and big time wrestling fan Ulysses Gomez (9-4) has his first fight since being dropped by UFC on 12/7 in Newcastle, England against Cage Warriors champion Neil Seery (13-9).

--DDP will have a talk show tour of the U.K. with shows on these dates

3/2 in London at the Leicester Square Theater

3/3 in Birmingham at The Glee Club

3/4 in Cardiff, Wales at The Glee Club

3/5 in Manchester at The Comedy Store

3/6 in Glasgow at The Garage

3/9 in Belfast at the Empire Music Hall

(thanks to Stephen Lyon)

--Bellator is conducting fighter tryouts from 12/1 to 12/7 throughout Central and South America. They are looking for fighters who have no contract obligations with another promotion. All weight classes are welcome.

--Former TNA wrestler Jesse Neal announced that he and wife Brittney Savage are expecting a girl in April. Congratulations to the couple. they have a registry at Target.

--Lucha Xtreme TV from last night in Fresno: Mike Hayashi b Elemento, Jeff Cobb b Jesse Poole, Mustafa Saed b Will The Beast, Brian Tannen b Mike Rayne. They built the show around Cobb and Saed as the new top stars (thanks to Jon Southerland)

--Salem Sinner Sixx beat Kyle Matthews to win the AIWF title last night in Clinton, MS.

--Amazon Prime has a new TV series called Betas, a sitcom about app developers. The episode that aired Friday had an indie wrestling plot as one of the main characters was going to buy the AWE promotion. It was clearly written by someone with knowledge of indie wrestling. There was a joke about hanging out with the workers after the show, a Vinny Mac reference and names mentioned included Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Kevin Steen. The treated indie wrestling as a legitimate business and gave it respect (thanks to Steve Neruda)